Signal Pulley Posts

[turtlebah]

A quick questions - does anyone know where i can pick up some signal pulley posts and what's the best way to connect them? I was thinking of using fine fishing wire, but wondered if there were any decent kits out there like the point rodding made by Wills.

[micknich2003]

Have a look on Wizard Models./Model Signal Engineering site. Andrew also does some very fine "Signal Wire".

[gwrcollet]

I just started to look for signal parts,and i was not sure that they were made? Wizard Models./Model Signal Engineering site.had all the parts, it would

be more helpfull if there was a picture of the parts next to the discription

[bécasse]

Signal wires were (are, in the few places where they still exist) of fairly small cross-section and normally very dull in colour. Viewed from the same scaled distance as you would normally view a model railway they would have been largely invisible. Modelling the posts and pulley wheels etc is an excellent idea. However, if you try to add a scale representation of the wires themselves, you will soon wish that you hadn't started. I am not quite sure now of the actual cross-section of signal wires, but a diameter of ¼ inch would equate to less than 0,1mm in 4mm scale, doable in itself (individual wires from a multi-strand low voltage cable, for example) but you would never, ever get them to hang right.

 

The same is not true for point-rodding, however, which, well modelled to scale, significantly enhances a model layout.

[TheSignalEngineer]

.................... I am not quite sure now of the actual cross-section of signal wires, but a diameter of ¼ inch would equate to less than 0,1mm in 4mm scale, doable in itself (individual wires from a multi-strand low voltage cable, for example) but you would never, ever get them to hang right...........................

 

Standard signal wire has 7 strands of 17 SWG galvanised iron wire. Heavier wire was available, occasionally used on long pulls on distant signals, at 7 strands of 15 SWG. Some railways formerly used solid wire at 8 SWG.

 

17 SWG is 1.422 mm diameter, so the stranded wire would be 4.266 mm. At 4mm scale this is approximately 0.056mm that equates to 47 SWG in old money or to go into modern sizes approximately 23 AWG.

 

(Edited for slipped of decimal places)

Edited November 21, 2017 by TheSignalEngineer

[micknich2003]

Here is a picture of the real thing. Nominaly 5/32in/4mm in diameter.

[Dave Holt]

17 SWG is 1.422 mm diameter, so the stranded wire would be 4.266 mm. At 4mm scale this is approximately 0.56mm.

That can't be right, surely? (0.056 mm?)

Dave.

[TheSignalEngineer]

That can't be right, surely? (0.056 mm?)

Dave.

Agreed, original post has been edited